Academy

On Friday night the Georgetown Men's Soccer Team made school history when they qualified for the NCAA National Championship match for the first time. The Hoyas battled neighbor school, the University of Maryland to a 4-4 draw in regular-time.

Former D.C. United Academy midfielder Tyler Rudy, a sophomore at Georgetown, played his part with an assist on the first Hoyas goal in the 33rd minute. Eventually the sides would meet for penalty kicks, and Georgetown would come out on top 4-3.

The local boys make their first National Championship appearance this Sunday at 2:00 PM against seven-time National Champions the Indiana Hoosiers. Watch the match on ESPNU or at WatchESPN.com, with commentary by Glenn Davis and Taylor Twellman.

Congratulations to the D.C. United U-16 Development Academy who will go into their winter break as the number one team in the nation. The Academy is the only division leader who boasts an undefeated record over the first 13 matches. With a 2.69 points per game average, they also lead their age-group in goals. 15 year old Gerson Umana, sits atop the individual standings with 11 goals on the season.

The US Development Academy season starts in September and goes through the following June. The winter break falls between December and March.

A report out today from TopDrawerSoccer.com offers some quotes from D.C. United U-16 Academy player, Gerson Umana.

Umana is currently tied for first in scoring among USSF Development Academy U-16 players with nine goals. “It’s really all team work,” Umana told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “I think as a team we are really complete [and] my coach is making me into a better player.”

D.C. United's mission of "winning championships and serving the community" isn't only for the first team. On Sunday, October 14, D.C. United Academy players, coaches, and parents participated in the Acumen Solution's 8K Race for a Cause in Arlington, VA. The race helped raise money for United for D.C. - the club's charitable arm.

Forty-five players from United's U-14, U-15, and U-16 teams ran with 15 coaches and parent plus the events hundreds of other participants. D.C. United front office staff also participated.

Most of the Academy players were sleepy and chilly at the start of the race (see above), but they warmed up during the run and enjoyed representing the Black-and-Red and a community event.

New Director of Youth Development, Sonny Silooy, finished first among the Academy coaches. And, as the photo on the right suggests, he was pretty happy about it.

Equal parts excited and anxious, Collin Martin sat alone at a corner locker in D.C. United’s busy dressing room last week. For the first few days, the latest academy product to be called up to first team training kept to himself - until the Black-and-Red’s captain broke the ice.

Equal parts excited and anxious, Collin Martin sat alone ata corner locker in D.C. United’s busy dressing room last week. For the first few days, the latest academyproduct to be called up to first team training kept to himself - until the Black-and-Red’scaptain broke the ice.

“Dwayne [De Rosario] came up and told me to hang out withthe guys,” Martin said this week, recounting his recent training stint withD.C.’s senior group. “They’ve beenreally welcoming and I felt like part of the team, which has been great. Now, I feel comfortable and all I have toworry about is playing.”

The opening interaction was the first of many between Martinand a group that would both challenge and welcome him over the comingdays. Moments after a drill last week,Brandon McDonald didn’t hesitate to remind the 17-year-old about the value oflate possession following an ill-timed turnover. The next day, Ben Olsen and Chad Ashton spenttime after practice hitting balls to the native of Chevy Chase, Maryland.

“When you aren’t playing with professionals you don’t thinkthat fast and you might not do all the right things,” Martin acknowledged thisweek. “But when you are playing withthese guys it forces you to think and really makes you a better player.”

The knowledge gained during his time in a professional environmentwill benefit Martin greatly in the immediate future. Before heading to ACC-powerWake Forestin the fall, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High Schoolproduct will travel to the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland with the Under-20U.S. National Team.

The tournament, held in late July, will feature some of theworld’s top young talent and - after training with him for the past week - D.C.’splayers expect Martin to hold his own.

“You can see he has a lot of quality and a lot of upside,”said McDonald. “If you look at his play,he is ahead of his time. [The coachingstaff] put him out here for a reason and that is for us to help him.”

“These kids are the future of the club,” added De Rosario. “The more that we can get them to come up andexperience what it is like to practice with the first team, the more it createsa competitive environment in the youth ranks. Everyone will want to earn their chance.”